Media Release

Embargoed until 26 December 2014 BOXING DAY TSUNAMI 10TH ANNIVERSARY: MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM TSUNAMI SURVIVORS TO BE DELIVERED AT BOXING DAY TEST

As the world marks 10 years since the devastating Boxing Day tsunami, international aid organisation CARE Australia is joining forces with Cricket Cares to say thanks to Australians for responding to one of the biggest natural disasters in history. The Thanks for Caring Australia campaign, which is supported by Australian Cricket Captain Michael Clarke, kicks off during the afternoon tea break at the Commonwealth Bank Boxing Day Test. As part of the campaign, hundreds of volunteers will deliver a special message of thanks from tsunami survivors that CARE helped with Australia’s support. People not at the MCG will be able to see the message at www.care.org.au/thanks and share it with the hashtag #thanksforcaring. Australians responded with outstanding generosity to the Boxing Day tsunami, donating more per person than anywhere else in the world. CARE Australia raised more than $42 million from Australians to support its Tsunami Response Program, which helped more than 1.3 million people across five countries – India, Indonesia (Aceh), Somalia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. From 2004 to 2011, CARE delivered food, water, healthcare, temporary shelter, rebuilt homes, water wells, toilets, schools and health centres, and helped families restart small businesses and rebuild their lives. Governor‐General and Patron of CARE Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove said the 10 year anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami was an important moment to recognise how Australians came together at a time of extraordinary need for our region. “Ten years ago, the Boxing Day tsunami devastated huge areas of many of Australia’s closest neighbours, claiming the lives of more than 230,000 people, leaving more than three million people homeless, and forever changing the way we respond to international disasters. “Australians stood tall when our friends and neighbours needed us the most. The Thanks for Caring Australia campaign recognises the support of so many Australians and shows how critical this was to helping those affected.” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said the Australian cricket community played a large part in the tsunami response and is proud to be partnering with CARE Australia through the organisation’s community action program, Cricket Cares. “Ten years ago the Australian cricket community helped to raise more than $15 million through the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal match at the MCG, so it’s only fitting we join forces with CARE Australia to say thank you to those who gave so generously.” CARE Australia CEO Dr Julia Newton‐Howes AM urged Australians to visit www.care.org.au/thanks and use the hashtag #thanksforcaring to help share the message of thanks from tsunami survivors to other Australians. “The generosity of Australians supported the massive humanitarian response carried out by CARE and other charities, and helped the people and communities devastated by the tsunami to build back safer and better than before,” said Dr Newton‐Howes. “We simply couldn’t have done it without Australia’s help. That’s why this Boxing Day, the survivors, CARE and Cricket Cares want to say thanks Australia. “I urge everyone to visit www.care.org.au/thanks, and to share the stories of tsunami survivors who were saved and helped with Australia’s support.” CARE Australia is an international humanitarian aid organisation fighting poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. www.care.org.au. ‐ENDS‐ Interviews with CARE Australia staff who worked on the Boxing Day tsunami response in Indonesia (Aceh), Sri Lanka, India and Thailand are available. Contact Tom Perry (0419 567 777) to arrange. Notes for newsrooms: The Thanks for Caring Australia campaign: ‐ On 26 December 2014, at the Commonwealth Bank Boxing Day Test, CARE Australia and Cricket Cares will observe the 10 year anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami by saying thank you to cricket fans and Australians for caring and responding to the one of the worst natural disasters in living memory. ‐ The Thanks for Caring Australia campaign aims to thank Australians for positively changing the lives of millions of tsunami survivors, and remember and honour those who died 10 years ago in the Boxing Day tsunami. ‐ It will be launched during the afternoon tea break of day one of the Commonwealth Bank Boxing Day Test. ‐ The campaign asks people to help CARE say thanks to more Australians by visiting www.care.org.au/thanks and sharing the message of thanks from tsunami survivors with the hashtag #thanksforcaring. ‐ The event at the MCG will include the delivery of the ‘CARE package of thanks’, which includes a special message of thanks from tsunami survivors to cricket fans. ‐ Australian Cricket Captain Michael Clarke has thrown his support behind the campaign and is presenting a moving piece‐to‐camera for a video to be played at the MCG.

The Boxing Day tsunami: ‐ On 26 December 2004, a magnitude 9.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Aceh, Indonesia, causing a series of tsunamis that affected 14 countries and killed an estimated 230,000 people. ‐ It was the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded and one of the 10 deadliest disasters ever recorded. ‐ Most of the victims were in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, but the earthquake was so powerful that the tsunami travelled nearly 5,000 kilometres to East Africa where it claimed lives and devastated communities. ‐ CARE helped more than 1.3 million people in many of the worst affected communities in India, Indonesia, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. ‐ CARE Australia helped over 162,000 people in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. ‐ The generosity of cricket fans and Australians supported the massive humanitarian response carried out by CARE and other charities, and helped the people and communities devastated by the tsunami to build back stronger and better than before.

A breakdown of the impact of the Boxing Day tsunami, and CARE’s work: Indonesia Sri Lanka India Thailand Somalia

 The most significant impact was felt  The second largest  16,279 killed and  8,212 killed and  The tsunami in Indonesia, which was closest to number of missing. missing. travelled nearly the epicentre of the earthquake. fatalities occurred  2.7 million  6,000 5,000  Banda Aceh, on the Indonesian in Sri Lanka, which displaced. displaced. kilometres to island Sumatra, was roughly 150 suffered the most  157,393 homes  4,800 homes the shores of miles from the epicentre of the significant number and buildings and buildings Somalia in East earthquake and the closest city. of deaths by destroyed. destroyed. Africa.  A large majority of the deaths in population size.  CARE helped  CARE helped  303 killed and Indonesia were in Banda Aceh, and  35,322 killed and 242,784 people. 51,308 people. missing. an estimated 60 per cent of the missing.  2,320 people city’s buildings were destroyed by  516,150 displaced. displaced. the earthquake and tsunami.  119,562 homes  4,800 homes  165,945 killed and missing. and buildings and buildings  572,926 displaced. destroyed. destroyed.  179,312 homes and buildings  CARE helped  CARE helped destroyed. 560,000 people. 135,372  CARE helped 350,000 people. people.